Optimizing targeted conservation for disproportionate benefits in the East Big Creek watershed, Iowa, 2019.

This dataset supports spatial conservation planning in agricultural landscapes by providing field-level information on the placement, cost, and ecological performance of perennial conservation practices in the East Big Creek watershed, central Iowa. The dataset includes modeled configurations of prairie strips, riparian buffers, and nutrient-removal wetlands, with associated estimates of nitrate-nitrogen reduction and biodiversity enhancement. These estimates were derived using open-source geospatial tools and publicly available data, including the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) and a modified Healthy Farm Index (HFI). The dataset enables users to explore how small-scale changes in land use can yield substantial environmental benefits, including improved water quality and increased biodiversity, while considering cost constraints. It is intended to support conservation practitioners, land use planners, and researchers in evaluating trade-offs and synergies among multiple ecosystem services in working landscapes.